Using this drum in house parties, to bar shows, to stage shows, to events with the Kalama Collective, this drum is all you NEED. If you want it, go ahead im glad you have that kinda cash to spare... but if you need a drum and are stick at a more affordable bracket... take your time... save some money and come back for this. This drum will endure, it will not de-tune under the might of your hand, it has enough configurations and versatility for it to be your own custom drum. If you buy this drum your name won't need to be carved, or logo'd on the side... the sound will do that.This drum boasts a gorgeous and sturdy body with pearl inlays and a shine under the tiniest of light. This comes with Tama's Die-Cast hoops and some magic with the tuning lugs. I have only tuned this snare once and it has not given out, in fact the more i play it the better it keeps sounding. The butt end strainer allows for the perfect amount of buzz or crack anyone would ever want.The sound is impeccable, ranging from the crack out of Mike Portnoy's snare with a depth so deep it gives this snare a personality of its own. I play in a funk/ambiant jazz/post-blunt band with a rock influence and this snare is always heard, through the most sensitive playing to the hard hitting accents and rock grooves, this snare will be heard. I am going back into the studio in a few weeks and cant wait to hear it out.In an interview with Tre Cool (Drummer for Green Day), he said "I once bought a $700 snare when we started touring and i still have that drum till today... it has some dirt in it from the warped tour and was used in a few albums"... There are a few items that drummers NEED to spend money on: Snare Drums, Hi-Hats, Ride, and a solid Bass drum pedal.Trust in the item you buy and if you are looking for a deal where quality = cost ... then this is your drum.

I have been searching for a certain full deep and rich sounding snare for a while now and finally found it! I looked at all different types but went with this one. This snare when tuned right gives you the high end of a metal snare but the full sound of a wood snare. So you get the best of both worlds!! Great buy.....

I don't own this, but I used it while in the Studio. This is the perfect Snare drum. It is Perfect. Don't waste money on a Custom Snare Drum when you can get this have the great sound for a fraction of the price.

I own a lot of different brands and styles, including the warlord snares, and this one is the "cameleon" of them all. It is so versatile, you could bring this to hurch, to a small club, an arena, studio, whatever. You are going to love the sound it gives. And it LOOKS GREAT TOO!

I own a few snares however this is the most versetile of them all. It can be played for rock and also brought back down to jazz. I find it's sensitivity allows the snare to have defined ghost notes and wide range tuning. A definate snare to have.

Unlike what many of the previous reviews may suggest, this is not a one-dimensional drum. Far from it. When I bought it, it concluded a many month long pilgrimage to find the best snare drum I could (besides a full out custom). I ended up with the Starclassic Maple after returning a DW, a craviotto and a yamaha in rapid succession. Back to versatility. The first time I saw this drum, I rejected it, because there wasn't enough crack. It was very sensitive and warm, and I liked it alot for quiter music styles, but it didnt have enough pop for rock drumming. A couple of weeks later I came back with a drum key and after spending an hour checking out different tunings, immediately fell in love. This drum can handle any application you throw at it, with remarkable tone and focus for such a deep drum. Not to mention the glorious crack when it's tuned up high and really hammered on. It even records beautifully.Long story short, this thing is a steal for the price.

Actually it's 13 ply, not 12. If you've never owned a Tama Snare Drum or even if you've never owned a Maple Snare you should start with a G-Maple Snare. You won't be disapointed. This snare sound cracks with authority every time you hit it. This drum rules!